GREAT BLACK WOODPECKER. 



249 



first quill-feathers very short : two middle tail- 

 feathers rather longer than the rest, giving the tail 

 a rounded appearance : legs lead-coloured ; co- 

 vered with feathers on the fore part for half their 

 length : the female is brownish ; with only the 

 hind part of the head scarlet : but both sexes vary 

 in this latter mark, and it has been quite wanting 

 in some specimens that have occurred. 



This bird is said to build in old ash and pop-; 

 lar trees, which it so excavates occasionally as to 

 cause them to be blown down by the first strong 

 wind : the female lays two or three white eggs, 

 which colour seems to be peculiar to the whole 

 genus : it is said to be so great a destroyer of bees, 

 that the inhabitants of those places where it is 

 abundant, and many bees are hived in the trees, 

 are obliged to take every precaution to guard the 

 mouth of the hive, which is generally done with 

 sharp thorns, but that is not always sufficient to 

 protect them ; the birds are found most numerous 

 where the greatest quantity of bees are kept. 



This species is found in most parts of Europe, 

 but not in Italy, and rarely in France and Eng- 

 land # : it is most abundant in Germany ; it is 

 likewise found in Russia. 



* The fact of its having been taken in England is very doubt- 

 ful, although it is mentioned in Dr. Pultney's catalogue of Dor- 

 setshire birds, where it is noticed as having been taken more than 

 once in that county : it has also been said to have occurred in 

 Lancashire, in the neighbourhood of London, and in Devonshire ; 

 but these latter instances are not sufficiently authenticated. 



